Luxe Lima & Peru Amazon

Lima is a bustling, busy city and one of the most important in South America. Any trip to Peru will likely begin and end in the capital and visitors take advantage of the fact that Lima is widely regarded to be the culinary capital of the continent and home to many of the best restaurants in South America. Home of the ceviche and the Pisco Sour it is a city where the past and present mix beautifully, from the colonial center to modern Miraflores, through to the ancient Incan and pre-Incan culture which can be seen in Lima’s various museums.

A city of almost 11 million people, it is nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the Andes mountains. This unique location means it enjoys a microclimate of zero rainfall and is spread along the coast atop cliffs that offer beautiful sunset views and peaceful ‘malecóns’, even a short trip is guaranteed to be richly rewarding and a perfect introduction to Peru and its culture.

Meals: (x)

Today, we learn all about the fascinating history of Lima from ancient pre-Incan times through to the colonial era, and how the invasion of the Spanish changed life in Lima forever, influencing its culture, architecture, language, and development. The Larco Museum is South America’s finest collection of pre colonization-era artifacts, and home to the famous “Treasures of Peru” section. You are accompanied by a museum curator on a select tour of the museum’s 45,000-piece collection. The curator will talk you through more than five thousand years of Ancient Peruvian history, tying in every piece to specific part of Peru’s colorful history, to leave you with an unrivaled understanding and knowledge of the fascinating history of this wonderful country. We enjoy a gourmet lunch in Café del Museo restaurant situated the environs of the museum itself or on the terrace overlooking the garden and its ancient statues and colonial amphorae.

Up next is a visit to a “Huaca”, an astonishingly preserved seven-tiered adobe and clay pyramid that dates from 700 AD and was once the administrative center of ancient Lima. From there, we take you in a private, air-conditioned vehicle to the colonial center of Lima which acts as the modern-day administrative center of both Lima and Peru. Here we take you inside the perfectly conserved house of the conquistador Jeronimo de Aliaga y Ramirez, maintained by his direct descendants and possibly the finest example of colonial architecture and republican-era Lima. With all the learning done for the day, we finish the day with a “toast for art” in the beautifully restored colonial building that is now Hotel B, itself something of a museum. Enjoy your refreshing cocktail among the bohemian surroundings of the artsy Barranco district before being taken back to your hotel.

Meals: (B, L)

AM: After breakfast, at the scheduled time, you will be picked up from your hotel and privately transferred to Lima airport, ready to board your departure flight to Iquitos!

Arriving on a morning flight, receive a warm welcome at Iquitos International Airport by our crew, and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. The afternoon continues with an introduction to the historic city of Iquitos and the opportunity to visit an indigenous Amazon community.

PM: In the early evening, embark on the Aqua Nera and settle into your generously-sized suite as you begin one of life’s greatest adventures. Following an introduction to our naturalist guides and a routine safety drill, gather at the restaurant for the first of many Amazonian cuisine experiences created by Aqua Nera consulting chef Pedro Miguel Schiaffino.

Please Note: Group transfers are provided between the airport and the cruise port if booked on our recommended flights. Separate arrangements can be made for afternoon arrivals.

Meals: (B, L, D)

AM: Rise with the sun for early morning birdwatching along the Marañon River and enjoy breakfast in the middle of the jungle. Later, swim, canoe or kayak in Yanayacu-Pucate River as we look for the legendary pink river dolphins.

PM: In the afternoon, come with us to an Amazonian village, interact with the native people, and visit local schoolchildren.

Meals: (B, L, D)

AM: The rewards for our early start today are plentiful: a full-day excursion, including a picnic lunch accompanied by the jungle symphony and fishing on the blackwater of the Samiria River.

PM: On the way back to the Marañon River after lunch, we venture out by skiffs alongside the banana boats transporting jungle products, keeping an eye out for pink river dolphins.

Meals: (B, L, D)

AM: As the day begins, embark on a morning wildlife excursion on the extraordinary blackwater Nauta Caño River.

PM: In the afternoon, we will take a jungle walk on the firm soil forest of Casual while looking for flora and fauna which may include medicinal trees, insects, and poison dart frogs. Learn more about the different rainforest strata and ecosystems. At night, focus our hi-tech telescope on the sky to identify the stars, planets, and the milky way.

Meals: (B, L, D)

AM: In the morning, take a guided visit to the local market and marvel at the regional produce of the Peruvian Amazon. Sample exotic snacks if you’re feeling adventurous. Return to the Aqua Nera for breakfast before disembarkation. En route to the airport, visit the Manatee Rescue Center, where orphaned Amazonian manatees rehabilitate before they are released back into the wild.

Group transfers will be provided between the airport and cruise port if booked on our recommended flights.

Meals: (B)